tewkesbury,
unfortunatly, reason has nothing in common with airlines.
The book bashers sitting in an office are making the decisions, and not for the safe and well being of aviation employees, or pax, it sucks but its the way it is.
the industry is such that CC are getting paid better than a lot of brand new pilots, engineers, etc.
Is it scary that Engineers are not happy in there job... of course, is it scarier that companies are putting F/O's in the right seat with only 200 flying hours... and are the accountants going to listen until one of our beloved aircraft goes down due pilot/mechanical failure....NO,
It is a sad fact but this industry is F###ed up at the moment and doesnt seem to be in a hurry to sort itself out.